Makers love makers, and we love supporting the maker and handmade community!

Saturday, November 12th, is the date for Pittsburgh’s 8th Handmade Arcade Pittsburgh’s largest indie craft fair! Don’t miss this “shop-portunity” to stock up on handmade gifts for everyone on your holiday gift-giving list.

Handmade Arcade will be held from 11 am – 7 pm at the David L Lawrence Convention Center downtown – with on-site parking, and also easily accessible by bus, T, bike, boat or on foot.

Inside you’ll find:

* Free admission, beginning at 11 am (OR purchase an Early Birdie pass for $15 directly from Handmade Arcade online or in-person at Wildcard – you’ll be some of the very first to shop one-of-a-kind wares, an hour early, AND get an awesome goodie bag!)

* Over 150 vendors of handcrafted, indie merchandise – both local and from out-of-state

* Refreshments on-site

* Hands-on handmade activities

* FUN!

Forget the big box stores and generic “everybody has one” shops – buy handcrafted for unique, one-of-a-kind items!  Handmade Arcade has something for everyone.

We’ll see you there!

HackPittsburgh is proud to announce their inclusion in John Baichtal’s new book, “Hack This: 24 Incredible Hackerspace Projects from the DIY Movement”!

Highlights include two longstanding HackPittsburgh projects – the Near-Space Balloon (LEAD Balloon) Project and the Aerial Ping Pong Drop!

The HackPittsburgh LEAD Balloon project began in March 2010 as part of the Hackerspaces in Space contest.  HackPittsburgh LEAD Balloons are large latex balloons, filled with helium, hauling payloads with camera(s) and Ham Radio equipment to track (and retrieve!) via APRS.  Our first trial launch was July 3rd of 2010, and our official contest launch was held on August 8th of the same year!  We’ve launched 2 additional balloons since, with members and non-members always welcome to attend.  Read the amazing story and see photos of our first successful launch in Our Day in Space.  Our latest successful launch info can be found in LEAD Balloon Launch B1.

Not wanting to waste any precious helium, we used some of the leftovers from a previous LEAD Balloon launch to begin the Aerial Ping Pong Drop.  Using EggBots, HackPittsburgh members and visitors printed a tracking URL, ball number, logos and other info onto ping pong balls.  The balls (and some fun origami butterflies for extra find-ability) were attached to biodegradable balloons filled with helium, and launched into the winds to land where they would.  Anyone finding the balloons/ping pong balls was invited to visit the URL on the ball to record time found and landing position.  See the map of tracked balls here: Aerial Ping Pong Drop.  HackPittsburgh has done a total of 8 launches to date.

If you’d like to read all the book details – and more on HackPittsburgh and our projects – grab a copy at Amazon, or visit us for an open Friday night and browse the shop copy!

Interested in enhancing your clothing with electronics? In this introductory class, learn to create soft circuits by sewing with conductive thread. Students will create a light-up cuff bracelet from industrial felt, battery, and LEDs.

No previous experience with sewing, electronics, computing, or soldering is needed.

Participants with favorite sewing scissors and needlenose/beading pliers should bring them, however we will have enough to share. All materials will be provided.

Buy tickets now at EventBrite.  The last day to buy tickets is Monday, Nov. 9th!

The details:

WHAT: Introduction to Soft Circuits
WHERE: HackPittsburgh, 1936 5th. Ave.
WHEN: November 14, 1pm – 4pm
INSTRUCTORS: HackPittsburgh members Elizabeth Perry and Matt Mets
TICKETS: $30 for members, $40 for non-members available until Nov. 9th ]]> http://www.hackpittsburgh.org/class-announcement-intro-to-soft-circuits-nov-14/feed 2